Task window navigation method and system
First Claim
1. A method for managing a plurality of windows organized and displayed on a graphical user interface of a computer, the method comprising the steps of:
- displaying a graphical control device on the graphical user interface, the graphical control device having a plurality of identifiers;
linking each identifier with a given one of the plurality of windows;
as a user of a graphical pointing device moves a graphical pointer adjacent to an identifier in the graphical control device, determining whether the window linked to the identifier is at a focus of the graphical user interface;
if the window linked to the identifier is not at the focus, automatically bringing the window to the focus irrespective of whether the user also activates a control function using the graphical pointing device; and
adjusting an order of the remaining windows.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of managing a plurality of windows organized and displayed on the graphical user interface of a computer. At any given time, one of the plurality of windows has a focus on the graphical user interface and a remainder of the windows are at least partly obscured behind the window having the focus. The method begins by displaying a graphical control device on the GUI, The graphical control device preferably has a plurality of identifiers each of which is associated with a given one of the plurality of windows. Thus, the graphical control device may be a slider, with each of the identifiers being a “notch”. As the graphical pointer is moved in a predetermined manner relative to the notches, respective windows are selectively positioned at the focus position on the GUI. Thus, the user may easily locate any desired window by traversing the graphical pointer across the slider notches. As each notch is traversed, the window associated therewith is brought into the focus position. This is a fast and simple technique for locating a hidden or partially obscured window on the interface.
292 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A method for managing a plurality of windows organized and displayed on a graphical user interface of a computer, the method comprising the steps of:
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displaying a graphical control device on the graphical user interface, the graphical control device having a plurality of identifiers;
linking each identifier with a given one of the plurality of windows;
as a user of a graphical pointing device moves a graphical pointer adjacent to an identifier in the graphical control device, determining whether the window linked to the identifier is at a focus of the graphical user interface;
if the window linked to the identifier is not at the focus, automatically bringing the window to the focus irrespective of whether the user also activates a control function using the graphical pointing device; and
adjusting an order of the remaining windows. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for accessing tasks executing in a computer, each of the tasks having a graphical user interface task window associated therewith, the method comprising the steps of:
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displaying a graphical control device on the graphical user interface, the graphical control device having a plurality of identifiers;
linking each identifier with a given one of the plurality of task windows;
as a user of a graphical pointing device moves a graphical pointer adjacent to an identifier in the graphical control device, determining whether the task window linked to the identifier is at a focus of the graphical user interface;
if the task window linked to the identifier is not at the focus, automatically bringing the task window to the focus irrespective of whether the user also activates a control function using the graphical pointing device; and
taking a predetermined action with respect to a given task window after that task window has been selectively positioned at the focus of the graphical user interface. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer program product in computer-readable medium for managing a plurality of windows organized and displayed on a graphical user interface of a computer, the computer program product comprising:
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instructions for generating and displaying a graphical control device on the graphical user interface, the graphical control device having a plurality of identifiers;
instructions for linking each identifier with a given one of the plurality of windows;
instructions, responsive to a user of a graphical pointing device moving a graphical pointer adjacent to an identifier in the graphical control device for determining whether the window linked to the identifier is at a focus of the graphical user interface;
instructions, responsive to a determination that the window linked to the identifier is not at the focus for automatically bringing the window to the focus irrespective of whether the user also activates a control function using the graphical pointing device; and
instructions for adjusting an order of the remaining windows. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer program product in computer-readable medium for managing access to tasks executing in a computer, each of the tasks having a graphical user interface task window associated therewith, the computer program product comprising:
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instructions for displaying a graphical control device on the graphical user interface, the graphical control device having a plurality of identifiers;
instructions for linking each identifier with a given one of the plurality of task windows;
instructions, responsive to a user of a graphical pointing device moving a graphical pointer adjacent to an identifier in the graphical control device for determining whether the task window linked to the identifier is at a focus of the graphical user interface; and
instructions responsive to a determination that the task window linked to the identifier is not at the focus for automatically bringing the task window to the focus irrespective of whether the user also activates a control function using the graphical pointing device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer, comprising:
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a processor;
an operating system;
a display having a graphical user interface;
a graphical pointing device for controlling display and positioning of a graphical pointer on the graphical user interface; and
display control means executed by the processor for managing access to tasks executing in the computer, each of the tasks having a graphical user interface task window associated therewith, wherein the display control means comprises;
means for traversing the graphical pointer from a first position to a second position relative to a graphical control device displayed on the graphical user interface; and
means responsive to the traversing means (a) for positioning a first task window at a focus of the graphical user interface as the graphical pointer traverses a first identifier on the graphical control device, and (b) for positioning a second task window at the focus in place of the first task window as the graphical pointer traverses a second identifier irrespective of whether a user also activates a control function using the graphical pointing device as the graphical pointer traverses the respective identifiers.
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23. A method for managing a plurality of open windows organized and displayed on a graphical user interface of a computer, the method comprising the steps of:
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for each open window, linking each of a plurality of positions in a graphical control device to a selected one of the plurality of open windows; and
as a graphical pointer is moved across each of the plurality of positions in the graphical control device, selectively positioning a given one of the open windows at a focus position of the graphical user interface, wherein the given open window is positioned at the focus position as the graphical pointer traverses the position in the graphical control device linked to the given open window irrespective of whether a user also activates a control function using the graphical pointing device. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A method for managing a plurality of windows organized and displayed on a graphical user interface of a computer, the method comprising the steps of:
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displaying a graphical control device on the graphical user interface, the graphical control device having a plurality of identifiers;
linking each identifier with a given one of the plurality of windows;
receiving an indication of access of the graphical control device;
receiving a selection of a first identifier of the plurality of identifiers;
temporarily displaying a first window linked to the first identifier as a focus in response to the selection of the first identifier;
receiving a change of selection from the first identifier to a second identifier of the plurality of identifiers;
temporarily displaying a second window linked to the second identifier as the focus in response to the change of selection;
receiving an indication that access of the graphical control device is relinquished; and
establishing the second window as the focus in response to access of the graphical control device being relinquished. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. An apparatus for managing a plurality of windows organized and displayed on a graphical user interface of a computer, comprising:
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means for displaying a graphical control device on the graphical user interface, the graphical control device having a plurality of identifiers;
means for linking each identifier with a given one of the plurality of windows;
means for receiving an indication of access of the graphical control device;
means for receiving a selection of a first identifier of the plurality of identifiers;
means for temporarily displaying a first window linked to the first identifier as a focus in response to the selection of the first identifier;
means for receiving a change of selection from the first identifier to a second identifier of the plurality of identifiers;
means for temporarily displaying a second window linked to the second identifier as the focus in response to the change of selection;
means for receiving an indication that access of the graphical control device is relinquished; and
means for establishing the second window as the focus in response to access of the graphical control device being relinquished. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A computer program product, in a computer readable medium, for managing a plurality of windows organized and displayed on a graphical user interface of a computer, comprising:
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instructions for displaying a graphical control device on the graphical user interface, the graphical control device having a plurality of identifiers;
instructions for linking each identifier with a given one of the plurality of windows;
instructions for receiving an indication of access of the graphical control device;
instructions for receiving a selection of a first identifier of the plurality of identifiers;
instructions for temporarily displaying a first window linked to the first identifier as a focus in response to the selection of the first identifier;
instructions for receiving a change of selection from the first identifier to a second identifier of the plurality of identifiers;
instructions for temporarily displaying a second window liiked to the second identifier as the focus in response to the change of selection;
instructions for receiving an indication that access of the graphical control device is relinquished; and
instructions for establishing the second window as the focus in response to access of the graphical control device being relinquished.
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Specification